The trick goes as follows: The phone rings, and a scammer on the other end of the line claims to be with Roseville Electric. The person tells "the customer" that his or her bill is late, and that a utility worker is en route to the home to disconnect the electricity.

There goes those holiday lights -- and the heat. But this all can be avoided with a payment.

"There are a number of red flags," said Sgt. Jason Bosworth, of the Roseville Police Department. "No legitimate company is ever going to have you pay with a money order or wire transfer."

The scammer in this case also offered up a form of a gift-card payment method, which is equally questionable, Bosworth told KCRA 3.

When it comes to paying for utilities in the city of Roseville, officials will never live-call people for billing and processing a payment. Companies instead use a "robocall" -- just a robotic voice saying a bill is owed or past due.

In addition, city officials said power would not be shut off before multiple notices had been provided.

A handful of people reported receiving a similar call over the weekend. Police said it appears no one fell for the scam.

THE SCAMMER WAS WILLING TO ACCEPT A WIDE VARIETY OF AILMENTS. THE PHONE RINGS -- OF PAYMENTS. THE PHONE RINGS. A SCAMMER CLAIMS TO BE WITH ROSEVILLE ELECTRIC. THE PERSON TELLS YOU YOUR BILL IS LATE AND THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO YOUR HOME TO DISCONNECT YOUR ELECTRICITY. THERE GO THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND THE HEAT. BUT THEY SAY IT CAN ALL BE AVOIDED IN JUST A UP. -- JUST PAY UP. NO LEGITIMATE COMPANY WILL HAVE YOU PAY WITH MONEY ORDER OR WIRE TRANSFER. THE SCAMMER IN THIS CASE ALSO OFFERED UP A FORM OF A GIFT CARD RAYMOND METHOD. ANOTHER SIGN THINGS ARE NOT ON THE UP AND UP? UTILITIES FOR THE CITY, YOU NEVER LIVE CALL PEOPLE FOR BILL PAYMENT. THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE A ROBO CALL WHICH IS JUST A ROBOTIC VOICE TELLING YOU THAT YOU OWE A BILL. IN ADDITION, POWER WOULD NOT BE SHUT OFF BEFORE MULTIPLE NOTICES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE REPORTED